Taking Job Hunting Seriously: Instructions

Having had the privilege to go through the recruitment process as a recruiter several times and also having been sharing jobs and other opportunities for some time now, I have noticed a number of mistakes job seekers and applicants tend to over look. I will be sharing these in a series of blog posts in coming weeks.

First mistake and perhaps the first filter in the recruitment process is actually the job advert itself. Most job seekers overlook and do not pay attention to instructions but instead rush to express their interest or apply for the job without giving much thought to the instructions given.

On social media platforms more especially, you will get job seekers commenting with their mobile numbers with a simple “I’m interested” next to it?

It is sad and shocking to see this. Simply reading the full job advert is not enough, you have to understand the job advert and the instructions contained in it as well.

What other shocking mistakes at this stage have you noticed that you’d like to share? Comment here so we may all benefit and learn from these silly but costly mistakes…

Freelancing is similar to being self-employed. A freelancer is a self-employed person offering services, usually to businesses and often to multiple clients at a time. The type of work freelancers do usually varies. Nearly every type of service a business would need can be provided by a freelancer, including but not limited to, marketing functions, social media management, website maintenance and copy-writing, publicity, blog article writing, IT support, creative works such as graphic design, financial and accounting support, research work, company secretarial work such as making compliance returns to institutions such as the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), and numerous other tasks.

As opposed to a regular job, a freelancer may get paid by the hour, day, or per project instead of a monthly salary. Freelancers do not necessarily have to work from home however, a freelancer can get hired by a company on a short-term contract where they have to be physically present to do the work, especially freelance consultants and temporary engagements with a company.

If you have a marketable skill set such as the ones mentioned in this article among other skill sets, you may register with a freelancing site like our partner site Made in Africa and look for projects posted by clients that match your skills and apply for them. When you get accepted for a job, you do the work according to the client’s requirements, and upon delivering the work you get paid.

It’s not as easy as it sounds though. Finding work as a new freelancer can be tough. Luckily there are many freelancing sites where you can find work, not just Made in Africa. But, you have to be really good at what you do to be able to win over clients and get more work.

If you’re interested in getting started as a freelancer, be sure to register on Made in Africa or watch this space for more opportunities. Let’s face it, you are better off being productive even as you carry out your job search, you never know where that freelance position may land you…could be on your next permanent job!

Once you are shortlisted for interviews, after applying for a job, it means that the company or potential employer has identified something in you that they like, and so they desire to meet you. This gives you a great chance to get the job you applied for. But to succeed, you must adequately prepare yourself for the interview.

First and foremost, while you know the name of the company, its contacts and location, you now need to research more about the company to have a wider understanding of the main reasons it exists and what products or services it offers.

Secondly, you need to understand the personality or character the company is looking for in the person they seek to employ, by reviewing the responsibilities, qualifications, skills and experience outlined in the job advert.

This will help you to have confidence in the interview, and to give the right answers that will show the employer that you are not only the person they need for the job but that you have great understanding about the job and the purpose of the company as well. An interview is the opportunity for you to come face to face with the employer for the first time, to introduce yourself and show that you are qualified and ready for the job. To know if you are qualified and ready, the employer will ask you certain questions that will tell what kind of a person you are and if they should give you the job from your answers and attitude during the interview.

There are three (3) major questions that interviewers consistently ask, and you must answer these questions well in order to get the Job. These are:

Tell us about yourself?
Do not confuse this question with the exact same question you get from ordinary situations when people want to know more about you especially to become friends with you, and so do not answer this question casually as you normally would. The interviewer now wants you to tell them something that will matter to them as they consider you for the job. The answers you give to this question will set you apart from other candidates. The best way to answer this question is to briefly tell your interviewer about your qualifications, experiences and skills, and major successes or achievements you have that relate with the company and job at hand.

Why did you leave your last job?
This question applies if this is not your first job, and presumes that you have already left your last job. If you are still with the job that you want to leave, the interviewer would want to know why you desire to leave that job for theirs. The answers that you give to this question will show the interviewer whether you simply desire what is best for you in your career or if you have a problem that led (or could lead) you to losing your job (and they would certainly not want to employ someone that will bring a problem to their company). They also want to understand what you expect from the job and company at hand.

Why do you want to join this company?
In answering this question do not start contrasting the company at hand with the previous one by talking negatively about the previous company, instead talk positively about the company at hand and how you so desire to work and identify yourself with it and with its successes through its products or services. Talk positively also about how you would perfectly fit into the company and how the company would benefit from you when they have employed you. While it is a great privilege to work for a reputable company with great incentives (such as good pay among others), do not let it be obvious to the interviewer that this is why you want to get the job.

These are the major factors and areas to look at and prepare in before you go into a job interview. When you prepare yourself in this way with required qualifications, skills and answer questions appropriately, with confidence and great attitude, you would increase your chances of succeeding in your interview and get the job.